Internal combustion engine



Feb. 16, 1943'. .J w. LACY 213113311 INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed Feb. 1, 1941 2 sheets-sheet 1 Feb. 16, 1943.

J. w.r LACY 2,3 1 1,31 1` INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed Feb. 1,-1941 v INV ENT OR.

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2 sheets-sheet 2 gmes VL/aqy l Patented Feb. 16, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT O FFICE INTERNAL C'OMBUSTION ENGrIlTE` James W. Lacy, Dallas,

Tex., assigner to Heuschober Engineering Corporation, Fort Worth, Tex.

Application February 1, 1941, Serial No. 376,945

i Claims.

which might wear out and otherwise cause trouble.

One of the particular objects of the invention is the provision of a pumping chamber and a by-pass chamber co-operating with the stroke of the piston in connection with a novel valve construction, whereby the gaseous vapor or air mixture is drawn into the pumping chamber during the total stroke of the piston, 'I'he assembling of these parts and the operation thereof also includes that during the ring stroke of the piston, the combustible mixture is `compressed in lthe pumping chamber or discharged into the by-pass '120 chamber from which point the mixture passes into the cylinder or cylinders during certain positions of the Ivalve.

Another important object of the invention is the valve construction, which provides a separate section for each cylinder employed and so arranged that one rotatable element may carry the valves for the number of cylinders used according to the capacity of the engine.

The invention also includes a construction i730 which embodies the utilization of herring-bone gears and the method herein described for mounting the gears whereby the power take-'off of the engine may be had from either crankshaft or from any one of the gears in the gearl.; train. I l

With the above and other and further objects in view, the invention may be readily understood from a perusal of the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying :4 0 drawings and in the drawings:

Figure l is a vertical sectional view through an internal combustion engine constructed in acco'rdance with the invention, the view being partly broken away; ,.415

Figure 2 is a schematic view of the gear train;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view showing one of the gears and the manner of mounting the same to the casing of the engine;

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional View of Figure 1,.'50 the view being taken along the line 4 4 thereof;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary detail sectional View of a modication of the piston ports, Figure 6 being a sectional view oi Figure 5, had on the line 6-6 thereof;

Figure 7 is an enlarged detail sectional View taken on the line 'I-l, Figure l of one of the valves and its ports, illustrating the manner of carrying a plurality of valves on one rotatable bar; and 60 lFigure Sis a schematic view of the valve showing itsV various positions.

As illustrated in the drawings, the engine consists of a casing C embodying the cylinders I, which may be multiplied according to the size or capacity of the engine to be constructed. The cylinders are made to accommodate two pistons 2, the latter being connected to the customary crank-shafts 5 in conjunction with the pins 3 and the connecting rods 4. The Atwo crank-shafts 5 -are connected by a train of gears of the herringbone type, the construction of the engine being especially adapted to the use of this type of gears, these gears being indicated generally at 6, Figure 2. The gears indicated at 1 are carried on the crank-shaft, and all of the gears are so arranged that each gear may be meshed with its mating gear or gears inthe manner necessary Vwith herring-bone gears, that is by movement in a line perpendicular to the center line of the gear. To this end, and as shown in Figure 3, there is provided an adapter 8 rwhich is mounted on the gear shaft IU, along with the gear bearing II, the shaft I0 being mounted in any suitable way in the casing C. Bolts 9 hold the gear to the adapter element 8. In this manner the mounting of the gears which connect the two crankshafts, maintains the crankshafts in fixed relation with each other. This arrangement also provides a means for taking off the power output of lthe engine from either crankshaftr or from any of the intermediate gears. These gears are indicated in broken lines in Figure 1, being disposed along the rear part of the engine.

The pistons 4 are relatively long in order that a stationary memberl I2, as shown in Figures 1 and 4, and mounted in the casing, may be held in the posi-tion shown by the supports I3. This `arrangement .provides for a pumping chamber I4 between the stationary member I2 and the under side of the piston, the object of which will be explained hereinafter.

Midway between the pistons 4 is placed a fuel injector or spark plug I5 depending upon the fuel and the type of engine used. The conventional forms of rfuel pump injection, fuel injecintegral with a rotatable bar I'I and several of the valves, one for each cylinder, may thus be carried on this bar, each valve being placed in a section I8 of the casing C, the assembly of valves being driven by the crank-shafts by meshed relation of one of the gears 6 in the gear train as previously explained.

The casing section or sections I8 are provided with an intake port I9a port 20 for the pumping chamber, and a port 2| leading to the cylin ders, by way of a by-pass chamber 22.

In each of the pistons 2 are several intake ports 23, and in the cylinders are arranged exhaust from the stationary member |2a. A plate 3| is then mounted on the member 30 and held against the inside wall of the piston 2a with several small springs 32, thus sealing the passage between the' pumping chamber and the crankcase.

In addition to the air or mixture supplied by the means heretofore described, a blower B is mounted on the engine so as to discharge into an air chamber A and thence into the cylinder when the ports between the chamber and the cylinder are opened by the piston. .In this manner the amount of air or mixture is increased, thus increasing the specific output of the engine. 'I'he engine also includes a suitable fly-wheel for smoothing out the firing impulses and which may be mounted on either or both crankshafts.

In the operation of the engine, and in accordance with the foregoing, it will be apparent that on the compression stroke of the pistons, the valveor valves I6 is in such positionY that air or combustible mixture is sucked into the pumping chamber by the, ports 23 inthe pistons.

The valve IIB being driven either directly or in-v directly by the crankshaft is so timed that the intake port I9 is closed and another opened so that the air or combustible material is compressed out of the pumping chamber I4 during the firing stroke of the piston and into the bypass chamber 22, and from this point it passes into the cylinder when the ports are uncovered by the piston. Inthis manner the air or mixture has sucient pressure to insure scavenging withoutcrankcase compression or the aid of a blower. It will be obvious Ythat eitherone or two rotary valves may be employed, depending upon the situation; however, either method may b e employed so as to utilize the same principle.

The cylinder ports 24, 25 and 26 may be so arf ing embodiment of an internal combustion engine constructed in accordance with the invention, it will be obvious that modifications and alterations, other than those shown and suggested, may be'made and which will be within the scope and meaning of the claims appended hereto.

In order to assist in-A piston and spring means What is claimed is:

1. In an internal combustion engine, the combination of one or more cylinders, a movable or reciprocating piston located in each end of said cylinder or cylinders, a by-pass chamber adjacent one end of each cylinder or cylinders, a fuel inlet injection and ignition means intermediate the by-pass chambers, a plurality of inlet and j Vexhaust ports disposed in the walls of the cylin- 210 der or cylinders, a main exhaust port, a blower and an'air chamber in communication with the cylinder or cylinders, a stationary member mounted in each cylinder or cylinders at each end thereof and forming a pumping chamber between the piston and said stationary member; a rotary valve at each end of said cylinder or cylinders for admitting a gaseous vapor or air mixture into said pumping chamber during the total stroke of the pistons; a crank shaft at each end of said cylinder or cylinders; each of said pistons including one or more ports for drawing the gaseous vapor or air mixture into said pumping chamber during the total stroke of the pistons; each of said pistons having a connecting rod for its adjacent crankshaft; a plurality of gears of the herringbone type providing a gear train, means for mounting said gears to connect said crankshafts to maintain said crankshafts in the same relative positions with respect to each other and for actuating said rotary valves in timed relation to opening and closing thereof.

2. An internal combustion engine as claimed in claim 1, said pistons including one or more ports, one of said ports having a means for sealing said pumping chamber from the crankcase of the engine, said means comprising an extension of said stationary member, a plate mounted on the extension and held against the wall ofthe Y for holding said plate in position. I p

3. In an internal combustion engine of one or more cylinders, a reciprocating piston in each end of each of said cylinders,V a crankshaft placed at each end of said cylinders, a rod connected to each piston in the corresponding end of the cylinders, a plurality of gears of the herringbone type each gear including an adapter element and providing a gear train to connect said crankshafts to maintain the crankshafts in the same relative position and to transmit the power developed from the crankshafts to the power take-01T' and to the various accessories,

and means for mounting and removing said herringbone gears without removing either of said crankshafts.

4. In an internal combustion engine of one or more cylinders, a reciprocating piston in each end of ea-ch of said cylinders, a crankshaft placed at each end of said cylinders, a rod connected to each piston from the corresponding crankshaft, a gear train connecting the crankshaftsand Aproviding for the power take-off, said gear train comprising one or more gear assemblies, each assembly consisting of a hub, a stationary shaft on which the hub is mounted, a rim having herringbone gear teeth and mounted on said'hub in such a manner as to allow the removal or replacement of any of the gears in the gear train without necessitating the displacement of either of the crankshafts.

JAMES W. LACY. 

